TV Retrospective: Young Justice Invasion Episodes 11-15

I know, this first week of X-men month has hardly any x-men in it. Bear with me, there are only 7 movies I could cover plus one tv series, next 2 weeks will each have 2 movies, and the final week of July (going slightly into August) will have 3 entries. This crossover review could've come out at any time. In the mean, more Young Justice

Cornered

We’re back, it’s been a full 4 weeks since I last worked on Young Justice reviews, even if it’s only been a two week break for you. I’ve had to sort out a few things, not least of which watching all the x-men movies to determine review type… But you’re not interested in any of that, instead let’s get back into Young Justice: Invasion with Cornered

It’s April Fools day and we see a robot named L-Ron tell Despero that the Earth is full of champions, dismissing those Rimbor there are still Leaguers like Captain Atom and Captain Marvel whose heads would look good (yeah, hope the you don’t mind the radiation leak)

We cut to New York where the Reach Ambassador and Captain Atom hold a meeting together, however when he suggests they meet in private, G Gordon Godfrey is slamming them (he’s one to talk about wearing a mask, but we’ll be getting to that)

Star Labs Toas where those kidnapped by the Reach are undergoing a session with Black Canary. Virgil Hawkins is next up, and briefly objects to being on camera (is it much to ask the just tell them that they plan to use it as potential evidence of what the Reach were doing) anyway, Virgil tells her that they wanted to break him. And it’s implied that other kids didn’t make it. Virgil leaves and the paperclip he was fiddling with attracts others

With Mount Justice destroyed, the team are operating out of the basement of the Hall of Justice but since that doesn’t have living quarters a warehouse in Blüdhaven has been converted. It’s not ideal with Mal particularly not liking it. He, Superboy and M’Gann head to the hall to collect some items salvaged from the cave.

Mal tries to crash with Karen but she’s less than willing. Zatanna and Captain Marvel seem to be the only Leaguers around when L-ron confronts them. He activates a force-field around the hall as Despero teleports in. Despero quickly shuts down Zatanna with his third eye. Superboy and Bumblebee head out to help Captain Marvel. Bumblebee heads to Zatanna, but she can’t wake her up, no can her stingers penetrate the force-field

Secretary Xang, the Reach Ambassador and Captain Atom talk, with the Reach Ambassador revealing that the League are wanted criminals throughout the galaxy and asking why their ship was targeted by their covert-ops team. The easy answer is that they were sent to investigate but Captain Atom tries to blurt out the truth only for the Reach Ambassador to more or less render his words worthless.

General Eiling alerts him to the situation at the hall, Black Lightning and the military are trying to get through but not having much luck. Miss Martian and Mal arrive with Superboy and Captain Marvel not faring well against Despero. Bumblebee calls to Miss Martian to help but she won’t use any psychic attacks.

Captain Marvel tries to use a lightning bolt but nothing happens, Despero shuts down his mind, L-ron chooses Superboy as his next target. Blue Beetle asks Impulse what he said to Black Canary, Impulse assures him he said nothing, since them finding out may be what turns him. Also them not finding out might result in his turning, what’s your point?

Back to Superboy getting his ass kicked. Mal is separated and spots the Guardian uniform, Despero has Superboy knocked out, with Miss Martian unable to attack, Bumblebee intervenes, she manages to knock out his eye with her stingers but is also shut down in the process. Just as Despero is about to finish them off Mal, now as Guardian, enters the fray.

Black Canary tells Blue Beetle that he may be their best weapon against the Reach. Mal gives a lot of dramatic flair, it really is terrible acting but he’s pretty damn skilled. Superboy tries to get Miss M to do something as he rejoins the fray. Miss M enters the minds of those who had been shut down. Zatanna uses her magic to turn the eye stare against him, giving Superboy the opportunity to shut him down. L-ron attacks but Billy uses the lightning to destroy him, but he leaves a bomb that destroys the hall.

Still having no luck shutting down the force-field, Secretary Xang and the Ambassador arrives, they manage to shut down the force-field and mention reveal the existence of the watchtower to the public. You know there are lots of satellites in space an ordinary guy wouldn’t know about. But again more slamming from G Gordon Godfrey. M’gann decides to not stay in the warehouse, instead in J’onn’s apartment in Chicago. She rejects a call from Laga’an but does manages to talk to Superboy.

Oh and the Reach took Despero off their hands. Black Canary reveals her understanding of why the Reach are here. Beetle interrupts and reveals the Reach apocalypse prophecy, he wants the scarab removed. It’s not a bad episode, being relatively self-contained whilst advancing some subplots for later on and providing some more development on the Blue Beetle front.

Rating 8/10

True Colors

Bumblebee and the Atom are investigating Jamie’s spin and find the area where the Scarab is attached to his back, unfortunately the plan doesn’t work as the scarab generates anti-bodies which repair the damage. Ray responds that the scarab is not likely to come off while he lives

G Gordon Godfrey slams the league some more (that logo is from the animated series, nice) and also reveals that the Reach have teamed up with the Reach on a project called LexCorp farms intending to increase food supply and help out against world hunger. 

Nightwing calls a squad to investigate LexCorp farms. Tim Drake, who’s barely been a player since the first episode, gets to the be the leader with Blue Beetle, Impulse and Arsenal, the original Roy Harper.

LexCorp farms is in smallville so we get a nice little cameo from Jonathan Kent. They notice a purple liquid flowing through the tube, Tim asks about it but the tour guide is less than forthcoming, they go to the bathroom to kill time.

Sportsmaster confronts the Light about Artemis’ death (about damn time). However, as he makes an attack on Manta he’s stopped by the Light’s new enforcer, Deathstroke, who has a really dumb looking pony tail. No points to whoever made that design. Fortunately, he has backup of his own as he and Cheshire escape by helicopter. Now he’s expunged himself from the light, he’s free to act and kill Manta.

Night has fallen and the place is empty, the group convenes in stealth mode and uses arrow things to hack the security cameras. They drop into a lower level and see that the Reach are adding an additive to the nutrients, Robin manages to swipe a sample and they leave. However, Arsenal decides to blow up the lab whilst they’re still well within the facility. I swear, I don’t mean to run this meme into the ground but…

He could’ve at least waited until they were home free. Or if the detonators had a limited range, fair enough but it’s still a stupid play. Lex immediately discovers them but stops Mercy from calling the guards as they’re confronted by Black Beetle. Without the scarab controlling Jamie, they’re not doing very well, Arsenal’s laser being the only thing to do any damage

Vandal Savage and Black Manta return to the sub, he provides Manta with Psimon who will sift through his memories and piece them all together. Robin manages to blow the wall, providing them an exit and they head through a cornfield but Black Beetle has them cornered, they’re joined by a formerly invisible Green Beetle, who then attacks Black Beetle. Given his abilities Robin concludes that he’s the martian version. Green Beetle is knocked into the fire but impulse puts it out. Blue and Green Beetle manage to knock Black out as they make their retreat.

Jon Kent has permitted the use of one his barns, as Green Beetle explains his origin. He came because J’onn was no longer sending television signals. He also reveals that the Reach put scarabs on all planets with primitive life forms to use as advanced operatives. He managed to use his martian abilities to take control of the scarab (or that’s what we’ll believe for now.) Robin decides (at least here) not tell Nightwing about Arsenal’s idiotic stunt (he’ll find out). Green Beetle tells Blue there might be another solution to his problem

Lex Luthor tells Vandal the damage was minor and their crop is already being converted into bottled format and being distributed to needy nations...

  

It contains what the Reach needs the body to need, apparently. But more of that in the next few episodes. Lex suggests forming a team of their own, putting forwards the 4 runaways as potential candidates.

It’s an episode I wish would’ve focused on Robin a bit more. Arsenal is well established as a wild card but it’s hard to ignore that this was a segway episode that introduced yet another character into the mix. Still, it progressed a couple of subplots and the next episode, that’s going to come into play.

Rating 8.5/10

The Fix

Usually this’d mean drugs but what the hey. Artemis as Tigress is wondering how everything went so wrong so fast. She relents getting back into the game so quickly. Black Manta calls him, and introduces Psimon. She realises that Psimon could end up knowing his secrets, including the one about them being double-agents. Manta advises she stay with them through the process, promising that Miss Martian will pay.

Miss M is asked to read Green Beetle’s mind to assure his validity. She establishes a connection but he manipulates the situation and ends up ‘volunteering’ his thoughts. Look, I’m not going to sugar coat it, Green Beetle is an agent of the Reach.

Meanwhile Tigress uses the drug Sportsmaster used on the Intergang Thugs on Psimon. Psimon works out she’s Artemis but the drug takes effect before Black Manta can enter. Tigress suggests that Miss M planted a telepathic virus in Kaldur’s mind so any other telepath they may employ would suffer the same, the only option is using Miss M herself. She volunteers to head to the mainland with Manta assigning her Deathstroke as backup.

After a cheesy ad for the Reach drink we find out that the additive contains 2 drugs which over generations it would over generations addict the populous and render them incapable of revolting. 

Which is more or less in line with their comic book counterparts (pre New52) anyway, this matches up with what the Flash and the Atom discovered from the additive sample. Green Beetle also reveals that the drink contains a metagene tracer, which was not revealed in the analysis (which makes me question its validity although given the Reach’s motives, it seems likely) they can’t go public with it since their credibility is too low and it won’t be believed.

La'gaan asks to talk to M’gann in private, they head to Chicago but Laga’an can’t wait any longer. He suspects something’s going on between her and Connor but before M’gann can rebuttal Deathstroke and Tigress attack (how did they track her anyway, she just zeta’d in) Miss M makes contact with Artemis, who says they need to kidnap her but without alerting Deathstroke or La'gaan of her true identity.

Deathstroke takes down Lagoon Boy, breaking his leg in the process and Tigress ‘takes down’ Miss Martian and they leave with her on the Manta-sub. Blue and Green Beetle talk, Green reveals that he reached inside his scarab to ensure it couldn’t take control. And he can do the same for Blue.

Miss M awakens in the sub. Black Manta explains to her that Deathstroke is watching from beyond the range of her psychic powers and should she try anything he’ll activate an explosive in her inhibitor collar. Her shape and density shifting and telekinetic abilities will remain blocked by the collar

Miss M reveals she’s not sure if she can fix him, she could make things worse. Her presence may well be perceived as another attack. Artemis volunteers to go with her. They enter his mind, a version of Atlantis in ruins and are attacked by Tula.

Superboy and Nightwing are restraining Lagoon Boy, who’s obviously worried about M’gann. Nightwing reveals the truth to them both and says if Tigress kidnapped Miss M there must be a good reason. Lagoon Boy asks why he’s only hearing this now and he obviously didn’t hear the words ‘Deep Cover’ because that’s a stupid question otherwise. Superboy backs him only to shout at him outside, revealing it’s likely that all 3 of them could die because he didn’t share.

OK, Superboy, here’s the thing, YOU’RE HARDLY ONE TO TALK! Miss M had been psychically attacking people for months before the abduction, if you had alerted anyone to that you might’ve avoided the scenario coming around at all.

Miss M is still feeling damage despite knowing the attacks are not real, she’s too busy blaming herself. Artemis heads off to find help and comes across a faceless Kaldur, largely talking in Atlantian. Artemis manages to talk him down and take him to Miss M. She can blame herself but only if she’s willing to act. They begin work fixing the damage

Black Manta comes to check on their progress, it’s been 6 hours since they started. Miss M warns this is not an easy process and will take days, maybe weeks to complete. Kaldur does manage to address him as father, enough at least for him to be assured they’re making progress. Tigress asks if this means he’s changed his mind about killing her (a bit of a weird thing to ask) but he’s going to kill her once she’s finished.

Impulse checks on Blue, who hadn’t been home all night. He believes himself to be free of the Reach, a notion which will not last very long.

Aside from the occasional hypocrisy between Superboy and Nightwing. This was a strong episode and begins the second part of M’gann’s story in earnest.

Rating 8/10

Runaways

It’s time to look at Reach abductees. Asami, Tye, Virgil and Eduardo aka most of these characters only allude to DC counterparts but erm… Virgil’s Static *wide grin*

Oh and we have Neutron, despite the fact we already know he’s clean and by now I expect they would too. They’re undergoing tests without the ability to contact home for some reason. Well, Eduardo excepted since his father works at Star Labs on the zeta tubes and his son gets teleportation powers. His theories are pretty solid. Still Eduardo’s more interested in a cure.

Static gives the indication that they’ll be busting out, tonight. Amazo body parts have been teleported into the lab since the hall couldn’t keep them. Suggestion, why not the watchtower? Nathaniel tries to stop them and sets off the alarm. The power goes out, deactivating the alarm and the 4 escape.

Nightwing contacts Blue Beetle, wanting to use his connection to Tye to convince them. We suddenly see Blue is able to make jets. Virgil tries to make a call to home, Tye calls him out and he reveals he wasn’t running away, he was nabbed at a train station where he was meeting his sister, if she’s anything like her from the DCAU, you didn’t miss out on much. I ask again, why were his parents not contacted by the League? They knew he wasn’t an orphan, he said so to Black Canary.

Asami notices Star Labs guards have the surrounded. Whilst asleep, Tye goes into his astral form, able to pick up and throw the roof of the bus stop. Blue Beetle arrives to help but Tye slams him down, grabs the others and runs off with them, Blue Beetle recovers and heads off in pursuit.

He catches up with them, revealing his secret identity and the basics of his powers. With the others not willing to go back to Star and going to Virgil’s parents house and making them targets both out, Blue Suggests they head to Green Beetle, who might be able to help… somehow.

Star Labs is attacked by Red Volcano who survived his lava dip (why am I surprised?) Nightwing calls Blue, he’s the only one in range since the Flash and Impulse are busy. Blue heads out and the runaways all agree to return to the lab. Blue Beetle is busted out of the ground and is sunk under the Earth. Tye says he’s capable of saving Jamie, using meditative skills taught to him by his grandfather to control his astral form. Volcano sifts through the parts but the head is missing, sent to another lab.

He’s about to kill Eduardo’s father but he manages to teleport them both out, the first time he’d teleported with someone. Their powers on the other hand don’t seem to phase Red Volcano (no-one’s powers seem to phase anyone) Fortunately Blue Beetle manages to throw them away. Volcano manages to destroy Tye’s astral form but Blue finds he’s weak to sonic attacks, however the sonic attack is damaging the building as well. Thankfully the runaways manage to get the rest of people out.

Volcano traps the 4 of them in rock, trying to get Blue to save them and let him get away but Blue ignores them, much to Eduardo’s irritation and Tye’s worry (they manage to save themselves, making it a moot point really)

Blue destroys Red Volcano and the press arrives to interview Blue Beetle, the runaways realise that sticking with Jamie is a bad idea and escape. He speaks to the Green Beetle and we get the revelation that of course he’s now an agent of the Reach.

They head back to the bus station when a car arrives. Lex Luthor had orchestrated Red Volcano’s attack on Star Labs (not to mention the power outage that allowed them to escape and the arrival of the press). He greets the 4 of them, saying he believes the Reach are using him to their own ends and offers a chance to empower them. It’s one thing I really like about this version of Luthor.

It’s a strong episode it’s just a pity so few members of the team are in it.

Rating 8/10

War

It’s time to check into Rimbor where for (what’s likely to be) the 50 millionth time, the League are telling the court that they weren’t responsible for the attack and they don’t believe them. What’s interesting is we get the reveal of the Reach on Earth and the details of their treaty with the Guardians, they can only lay claim to worlds their invited to but if they’ve been invited, no Green Lantern can show up. We see someone mention to a very bulky fellow that this may have long term consequences as to who runs the Galaxy. Oh and some Kroloteans call the humans savages for not paying bribes

We see the big fellow is Mongul and the smaller one is Vandal Savage and we’re starting to see the Light move towards their own endgame and we know they don’t want the Reach to dominate the Earth. It’s over 2 months later and the Watchtower picks up a massive battle satellite coming towards Earth

The Reach recognise and make contact, Mongul is voiced by Keith David, Greg Weisman seems to love working with him since he shows up in pretty much all of his projects sooner or later. He says that the Reach’s presence on Earth is why they’re there.

Green Beetle reports to the League. The satellite is called the War World, a doomsday weapon, activated by a crystal key by Mongul. Mongul wants to free his world from enslavement by conquering the rest of the Galaxy, much like Kylstar from the tie-in comic.

The second satellite has a big impact on the planet which we find out thanks to a mopey Cat Grant. The Reach Ambassador says he only has a single ship with no weapons which will come into play later. Captain Atom makes contact to begin negotiations but Mongul’s not interested and fires his main cannon, fortunately Doctor Fate manages to destroy the cannon by returning fire. The War World targets him but Rocket provides protection. Captain Marvel, Green Beetle and Captain Atom have his attention, allowing the team to get inside.

Superboy, Wolf, Wonder Girl and Arsenal are en-route to Mongul. Impulse, Beast Boy and Blue Beetle are off to snab the power key. Guardian and Bumblee are taking Sphere to the power core to disable it. Batgirl and Robin are helping the League lay down cover fire from the bio-ship. The war world deploys its battle drones. Mal makes several slams on Bumblebee’s inattentiveness to him lately.

Alpha find Mongul and… I know you’re not going to believe this,.. They get their asses handed to them. What is it with this show and people kicking their asses? Oh apparently, his world has a red sun, so, like Superman and Superboy, he’s more powerful under the yellow sun. Mongul decides to launch all its weapons upon the Earth a massive array of missiles. The League are able to neutralise 64%, Earth’s military 13% leaving 23%, which will destroy a hemisphere and spoil Earth's "meat". The ambassador orders the fleet mobilised, they manage to destroy the missiles, at the cost of 2/3 of their fleet.

Malcolm and Bumblebee arrive at the power core and continue to argue. Impulse and co arrive at the key chamber where more battle drones await. The power keeps re-routing so Mal advises Karen to re-route it somewhere useful. She re-routes it right to Mongul’s chair, stunning him enough for alpha squad to be able to knock him out and Wonder Girl tie him up with her Lasso. Blue Beetle takes the key, shutting the station down.

The team rendezvous at the hangar and Mal and Karen make up but… Blue Beetle makes his move, knocking Impulse out first, then taking Batgirl, Beast Boy and Mal with a sonic attack. He knocks Superboy back leaving Wondergirl trapped under Mongul to be pinned down by Blue. Robin tries to attack with a birdarang (yeah, they actually use that name) but it’s unsuccessful. Arsenal opens the Hangar door, not wanting to be taken again. Sphere is blown out the airlock.

Blue closes it and uses a sonic attack against Bumblebee, Robin and Wolf, knocking them out too. With little air, Arsenal uses a rebreather and manages to escape as Superboy is knocked out. The Reach have acquired the crystal key.

It’s a big gambit episode, but you’re still left wondering what the Light’s plans are with the War World, and we’ll find out in episodes to come

Rating 9/10

Next time we’ll see the runaways fight the Reach with Arsenal, the revelation of what took the Scarab offline to begin with, the Light’s agenda comes to fruition and Sportsmaster makes his move.

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Images/clips used in this review are from Young Justice Invasion and Ratchet and Clank and belong to their respective owners. All images in this review are subject to fair use